- Date
- April 25, 1985, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Detroit, MI
- Injuries
- 42 minor, 439 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N9663Boeing 747-123
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- FAA report
- 19850425077599I
- Case key
- 15843
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The flt crewmembers of the jumbo jet were preparing to start the engs when flt attendants (f/a's) in the forward cabin detected a faint odor prior to closing door 1L. The source could not be determined, so the door was closed in preparation for a pushback. Shortly thereafter, smoke was discovered in the vicinity of the overhead bin at row 16. The captain was notified & he ordered that 'occupants evacuate, if there is a fire onboard.' The jetway was brought back to door 1L. The smoke dissipated; thus, the f/a's at doors 1R, 2L & 2R did not open their doors. However, the f/a's at the other 6 doors were unaware of the situation & continued the evacuation. The ramps at doors 3L & 3R did not inflate & door 5R jammed halfway open. The ramp packs for 3R & 3L were improperly mounted. The 5R pack board was made for a left hand door & the lanyard was not connected to the bottom panel pulley. An exam revealed a ballast for an overhead flourescent light, pn 69-33C, had overheated & melted the plastic case.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9663
- Reported as
- Boeing 747-123
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- SN20102
- Airframe hours
- 38,827
- Engine
- P&W JT9, 14,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- United Air Carriers, doing business as National Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner
- United Air Carriers
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- DTW · Detroit, MI
- Destination
- LAS · Las Vegas, NV
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 12,000 total · 600 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DTW, 5 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.